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EP4382204A1 - Vorrichtung zur integrierten prozessierung biologischer proben - Google Patents

Vorrichtung zur integrierten prozessierung biologischer proben Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4382204A1
EP4382204A1 EP22211537.0A EP22211537A EP4382204A1 EP 4382204 A1 EP4382204 A1 EP 4382204A1 EP 22211537 A EP22211537 A EP 22211537A EP 4382204 A1 EP4382204 A1 EP 4382204A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sample
compartment
microfluidic structure
centrifugal force
processing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP22211537.0A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Sebastian Beyer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Amiprox Pte Ltd
Original Assignee
Amiprox Pte Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Amiprox Pte Ltd filed Critical Amiprox Pte Ltd
Priority to EP22211537.0A priority Critical patent/EP4382204A1/de
Priority to CN202380083526.8A priority patent/CN120303065A/zh
Priority to EP23818422.0A priority patent/EP4577349A1/de
Priority to PCT/EP2023/084366 priority patent/WO2024121159A1/en
Publication of EP4382204A1 publication Critical patent/EP4382204A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B01L3/5021—Test tubes specially adapted for centrifugation purposes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
    • B01L3/50273—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
    • B01L2200/16—Reagents, handling or storing thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/06—Auxiliary integrated devices, integrated components
    • B01L2300/0681—Filter
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
    • B01L2300/0832—Geometry, shape and general structure cylindrical, tube shaped
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
    • B01L2300/0861—Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
    • B01L2300/087—Multiple sequential chambers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
    • B01L2300/16—Surface properties and coatings
    • B01L2300/161—Control and use of surface tension forces, e.g. hydrophobic, hydrophilic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
    • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
    • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
    • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
    • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
    • B01L3/502707—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
    • B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
    • B33Y80/00—Products made by additive manufacturing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device and a corresponding method for the integrated processing of biological samples solely by means of centrifugal force applied along the vertical axis of the device, wherein the centrifugal force is increased with onward sample processing.
  • microfluidics are based on microfluidic systems.
  • the obvious advantages of microfluidics include reduced consumption of samples and reagents, enhanced efficiency, and comparably fast reaction times.
  • biomolecular analyses are not hampered by the actual diagnostic assays themselves, but rather by the processing of the biological samples during the time from their collection until introduction into the assay device.
  • Biological samples typically need to be subjected to any form of purification, fractionation, filtering, dilution, concentration, digestion or preservation in order to be suitable for downstream analysis (e.g., do not clog a device due to high viscosity) and thus to provide reliable and accurate results.
  • the first microfluidic structure exhibits a more hydrophilic behavior than the second microfluidic structure.
  • the material of which the first microfluidic structure is made may exhibit a more hydrophilic behavior than the material of which the second microfluidic structure is made; and/or the first microfluidic structure may have functional surface modifications in order to exhibit a more hydrophilic behavior than the second microfluidic structure.
  • the first microfluidic structure and the second microfluidic structure are produced by means of 3D printing or by means of injection molding.
  • the processing of the biological sample comprises an at least partial purification of the sample.
  • the processing of the biological sample comprises at least two steps selected from the group consisting of desalting of the sample, concentrating of the sample, diluting of the sample, solubilizing and/or digesting of the sample, depleting a fraction contained in the sample, and enriching a fraction contained in the sample.
  • the device is integrally formed as one piece.
  • at least one compartment of the device is formed as a separate piece being connectable with the remainder one or more compartments of the device.
  • the device further comprises a reagent reservoir, with the distal end of the reagent reservoir being connectable to the proximal end of the compartment for sample loading such that the two compartments are in fluid communication; or with the distal end of the reagent reservoir being connectable to the proximal end of the at least first compartment such that the two compartments are in fluid communication, particularly wherein the reagent reservoir is pre-filled with reagent(s).
  • the device further comprises a sample collection reservoir for the collection of the processed sample, with the proximal end of the sample collection reservoir being connectable to the distal end of the at least second compartment such that the two compartments are in fluid communication.
  • the present invention relates to a method for the processing of a biological sample by means of centrifugal force applied along the vertical axis of a processing device, the method comprising: (i) introducing of the biological sample in a device as defined herein above; (iii performing the first step of sample processing in the at least a first compartment of the device by applying a first centrifugal force along the vertical axis of the device, allowing the sample to pass the first microfluidic structure; and (iii) performing the second step of sample processing in the at least second compartment of the device by applying a second centrifugal force along the vertical axis of the device, allowing the sample to pass the second microfluidic structure, wherein the second centrifugal force is larger than the first centrifugal force.
  • the method further comprises: loading the biological sample to the compartment for sample loading being connected to the at least first compartment of the device; and/or after the biological sample has been introduced in the device, releasing the reagent(s) from the reagent reservoir being connected to the compartment for sample loading or being connected to the at least first compartment of the device.
  • the method further comprises: collecting the processed sample in the sample collection reservoir being connected to the at least second compartment of the device.
  • the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of blood, plasma, serum, saliva, urine, nasopharyngeal swab, oropharyngeal swab, and tissue specimens
  • the present invention relates to the use of a device as defined herein above for the processing of a biological sample to be subjected to 'omics' applications, particularly wherein the 'omics' applications are selected from the group consisting of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, glycomics, microbiomics, and metabolomics.
  • the present invention is based on the unexpected finding that the processing and preparation of biological samples for downstream applications can be performed solely by means of vertical centrifugal force in a single device, thus providing for a significantly less laborious, simplified, and cost-effective process.
  • Hands-on time is limited to only minutes for loading the sample and placing the device in a centrifuge.
  • both hands-on time and total costs per assay can be reduced by at least 30-60%.
  • the device has a particularly design with a vertical arrangement of at least two compartments in fluid communication with each other and with a microfluidic structure located at their respective distal ends.
  • Each compartment is adapted for performing one step of sample processing, with the transport from one compartment to the consecutive one being controlled by the centrifugal force applied.
  • the biological sample is introduced into the device and transported by applying centrifugal force along the vertical axis of the device, wherein the resistance for the sample to pass the first microfluidic structure is lower than the resistance to pass the second microfluidic structure.
  • This is accomplished by the configuration of the microfluidic structures, with the capillaries of the first microfluidic structure inter alia having a larger average diameter than the capillaries of the second microfluidic structure.
  • the first microfluidic structure also exhibits a more hydrophilic behavior than the second microfluidic structure.
  • the present invention relates to a device for the processing of a biological sample by means of centrifugal force applied along the vertical axis of the device, the device comprising:
  • the device of the present invention comprises at least two compartments, a first compartment and a second compartment.
  • the device may have more than two compartments, such as three, four, five, six, or more compartments.
  • the compartments are vertically arranged with the distal end of one compartment being in connection with the proximal end of the next compartment so that the two compartments are in fluid communication with each other, that is, the sample to be processed can be transferred from one to the next compartment.
  • the connection between two compartments (such as the at least first and second compartments) may be rigid, that is, the two compartments represent a monolithic entity.
  • the connection between two compartments may be detachable, such as in form of a plug connection (i.e., plug and socket) or a bolted connection (i.e., a screw fitting).
  • the at least first and second compartments of the device represent reaction chambers, in which the individual consecutive steps of sample processing take place.
  • the first processing step is performed in the first compartment, the second processing step (which is consecutive to the first one) in the second compartment, and so on.
  • the compartments may have a spherical, tubular (cylindrical) or conical shape, with or without tapering towards the proximal and/or distal end.
  • the first compartment comprises a structure for the loading of the biological sample that is arranged at the proximal end of the compartment. In its easiest form, such structure is an opening through which the biological sample is introduced in the compartment. The opening may be sealable or lockable with any form of cap, such as a revolving cap.
  • the structure for the loading of the sample may alternatively be configured as concave surface at the proximal end of the first compartment with an opening at the bottom center in order to facilitate fluid flow, even of small sample volumes in the ⁇ l scale, and processing of the complete sample.
  • Each compartment comprises a microfluidic structure at its distal part, typically being arranged in the distal third of the compartment, and particularly within the distal 20% or 10% of the compartment.
  • microfluidic structure refers to a system of one or more microchannels or capillaries in a typically polymeric matrix.
  • the microfluidic structure may also be arranged directly at the connection site between two compartments.
  • the microfluidic structures of the device are configured as molecular sieve or barrier comprising capillaries.
  • the microfluidic structure has a typical thickness of up to 10 mm.
  • the microfluidic structure has a thickness of 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 2.5 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 7.5 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm or 10 mm.
  • Fluid flow through the microfluidic structures is driven by applying external centrifugal force along the vertical axis of the device. Accordingly, in typical embodiments of the present invention, it is not foreseen to further involve the arrangement of micropumps for active manipulation of fluid flow.
  • the general technical principle underlying the device of the present invention is schematically illustrated in Figure 2 .
  • microfluidic structures may be produced by various well-established technologies of additive manufacturing (exemplary reviews are given), such as 3D printing ( Ngo, T.D. et al. (2016) Composites Part B: Engineer. 143, 172-196 ), injection molding ( Singh, S. & Verma, A. (2017) Materialstoday Proc. 4, 1423-1433 ), fused deposition molding ( Penumakala, P.K. et al. (2020) Composites Part B: Engineer. 201, e108336 ), stereo lithography ( Huang, J. et al. (2020) Processes 8, e1138 ), selective laser sintering ( Rajesh, R. et al. (2015) Int. J. Curr. Engineer. Sci. Res.
  • the microfluidic structures are produced by means of 3D printing or by means of injection molding.
  • the microfluidic structure comprise one or more capillaries which allow fluid transfer through the structure.
  • the one or more capillaries have a tubular (cylindrical) or almost tubular shape.
  • non-cylindrical capillaries may be possible as well.
  • the average diameter of the capillaries is in the range between 10 ⁇ m and 2 mm, and preferably in the range of 50 ⁇ m to 1.5 mm or of 100 ⁇ m to 1 mm. Exemplary ranges of average diameters are 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm, and 0.5 mm to 1 mm.
  • Exemplary average diameters are 10 ⁇ m, 20 ⁇ m, 30 ⁇ m, 40 ⁇ m, 50 ⁇ m, 60 ⁇ m, 70 ⁇ m, 80 ⁇ m, 90 ⁇ m, 100 ⁇ m, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, 1 mm, 1.1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.3 mm, 1.4 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.6 mm, 1.7 mm, 1.8 mm, 1.9 mm, and 2 mm.
  • the average diameter of the capillaries comprised in the first microfluidic structure (in the first compartment) is larger than the average diameter of the capillaries comprised in the second microfluidic structure (in the second compartment).
  • the average diameter of the capillaries in the first microfluidic structure is 1.5 times to 15 times larger than the average diameter of the capillaries in the second microfluidic structure, and preferably 2 times to 10 times larger.
  • the average diameter of the capillaries in the first microfluidic structure is 1.5 times, 2 times, 3 times, 4 times, 5 times, 6 times, 7 times, 8 times, 9 times, 10 times, 11 times, 12 times 13 times, 14 times or 15 times larger than the average diameter of the capillaries in the second microfluidic structure.
  • the average diameter of the capillaries in the first microfluidic structure may be 1 mm and the average diameter of the capillaries in the second microfluidic structure may be 0.1 mm; or the average diameter of the capillaries in the first microfluidic structure may be 0.5 mm and the average diameter of the capillaries in the second microfluidic structure may be 0.2 mm.
  • the capillaries comprised in the third (or any further) microfluidic structure have an average diameter being smaller than the average diameter of the capillaries comprised in the second (or any preceding) microfluidic structure.
  • the smaller average diameter of the capillaries in the second microfluidic structure as compared to the first microfluidic structure results in a higher resistance for the passing of the sample through the second microfluidic structure.
  • the centrifugal force to be applied to transfer the sample through the second microfluidic structure has to be higher than that to transfer the sample through the first microfluidic structure.
  • the second centrifugal force has to be larger than the first centrifugal force.
  • the first microfluidic structure exhibits a more hydrophilic behavior than the second microfluidic structure.
  • the material of which the first microfluidic structure is made may exhibit a more hydrophilic behavior than the material of which the second microfluidic structure is made.
  • the first microfluidic structure may have functional surface modifications in order to exhibit a more hydrophilic behavior than the second microfluidic structure.
  • Hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials are generally defined by the geometry of water on a flat surface, and specifically by the angle between a droplet's edge and the surface underneath it. This is commonly called the (static) contact angle. More precisely, however, no equilibrium contact angle, and thus an actually static contact angle, exists in nature. Rather, the advancing contact angle (i.e., the highest possible contact angle) and the receding contact angle (i.e., the lowest possible contact angle) should be determined to get a true picture of the wettability of a surface, and thus the hydrophilic or hydrophobic behavior of a material.
  • the contact angle is less than 90°, and that surface is considered hydrophilic or water-loving.
  • the contact angle is more than 90°, and the surface is hydrophobic or water-fearing.
  • the microfluidic structures used herein are made of polymeric materials.
  • suitable polymeric materials include polypropylene, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, poly(methylmethacrylate), polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, polyimide, polydimethylsiloxane, cyclic block copolymer, cyclic olefin (co)polymer, and combinations thereof. All these polymeric materials are well known and commercially available from various suppliers.
  • a skilled person is well aware of the hydrophilic behavior a given polymeric material has in comparison to another polymeric material. For example, due to its non-polar molecular structure polytetrafluoroethylene is significantly more hydrophobic than polypropylene. Hence a first microfluidic structure made of polypropylene exhibits a more hydrophilic behavior than a second microfluidic structure made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
  • a skilled person is also well aware of methods for the surface functionalization (modification) in order to increase the hydrophilic behavior of a given polymeric material. Suitable methods (exemplary reviews are given) include plasma irradiation (e.g., by corona discharge; Agrawal, N.K. et al. (2019) In: Radiation Effects in Polymeric Materials. Kumar, V. et al. (eds.), Springer Press ), chemical vapor deposition ( Sun, L. et al. (2021) Nat. Rev. Methods Primer 1, e5 ), ultraviolet irradiation ( Jaganathan, S.K. et al. (2014) J. Materials Sci. 50, 2007-2018 ), and etching ( Mijovic, J.S.
  • the device further comprises a compartment for sample loading, that is, a separate entity for introducing the biological sample in the device.
  • the distal end of the compartment for sample loading being connectable to the proximal end of the at least first compartment such that the two compartments are in fluid communication.
  • the connection between the compartment for sample loading and the at least first compartments may be rigid, that is, the two compartments represent a monolithic entity.
  • the connection between the two compartments may be detachable, such as in form of a plug connection (i.e., plug and socket) or a bolted connection (i.e., a screw fitting).
  • the compartment for sample loading may have a concave bottom surface in order to concentrate the sample (and any buffers or other reagents) at the center of the bottom in order to facilitate complete processing.
  • the device further comprises a reagent reservoir, with the distal end of the reagent reservoir being connectable to the proximal end of the compartment for sample loading such that the two compartments are in fluid communication.
  • the distal end of the reagent reservoir is connectable to the proximal end of the at least first compartment such that the two compartments are in fluid communication.
  • the connection between the reagent reservoir and the compartment for sample loading or the at least first compartment may be rigid, that is, the two compartments represent a monolithic entity.
  • the connection between the two compartments may be detachable, such as in form of a plug connection (i.e., plug and socket) or a bolted connection (i.e., a screw fitting).
  • the reagent reservoir is used for storing the buffers and/or reagents (e.g., chelating agents, lysis reagents, and enzymes).
  • the reagent reservoir is pre-filled with one or more reagent(s).
  • the prefilled reagent reservoir may be sealed, for example, sealed with a cap.
  • the reagent reservoir may have a concave bottom surface in order to concentrate the reagents (during operation of the device, also a mixture of reagent(s) and biological sample) at the center of the bottom in order to facilitate complete processing.
  • An opening in the bottom surface for transferring the reagent(s) to the compartment for sample loading or the at least first compartment may be sealing with the sealing having a breaking point that is broken after connection with the compartment for sample loading or the at least first compartment, for example by means of a push pillar arranged at the proximal end of the compartment for sample loading or the at least first compartment.
  • the device further comprises a sample collection reservoir for the collection of the processed sample, with the proximal end of the sample collection reservoir being connectable to the distal end of the at least second compartment (i.e., the terminal compartment for performing a step of sample processing) such that the two compartments are in fluid communication.
  • the connection between the sample collection reservoir and the at least second compartment may be rigid, that is, the two compartments represent a monolithic entity.
  • the connection between the two compartments may be detachable, such as in form of a plug connection (i.e., plug and socket) or a bolted connection (i.e., a screw fitting).
  • the sample collection reservoir may have a concave bottom surface in order to concentrate the (finally) processed sample.
  • the sample collection reservoir may be configured to be connectable to any device for the preforming of any downstream applications employing the processed sample.
  • the device of the present invention can be used to perform any steps of the processing of a biological sample after the obtaining of the sample, for example directly from a subject or from a storage facility or depository, in order to prepare the same for downstream applications (such as nucleic acid amplification and sequencing, mass spectroscopy, immunologic detection methods, and the like).
  • the processing of the biological sample comprises an at least partial purification of the sample, that is, for example, the depletion of a fraction of material contained in the sample or the removal of any debris.
  • the processing of the biological sample comprises at least two steps selected from the group consisting of desalting of the sample, concentrating of the sample, diluting of the sample, solubilizing and/or digesting of the sample, depleting a fraction contained in the sample, and enriching a fraction contained in the sample.
  • the actual processing steps performed inter alia depend on the type of biological sample to be analyzed and the type of downstream application to which the processed sample is subjected. A skilled person is well aware to select appropriate processing steps for a given setting. Such processing steps are well established in the art and standard in the field of molecular biology (see, e.g., Sambrook, J. et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY ; Ausubel, F.M. et al. (2001) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology. Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ ).
  • a first processing step relates to a modification of the viscosity of the sample or the concentration of a fraction of material contained in the sample. Accordingly, such first processing step may concern the dilution of the sample in an appropriate buffer in order to facilitate subsequent steps (e.g., an undiluted whole blood sample may clog an affinity resin in a subsequent fractionation step).
  • a first processing step may also concern the desalting of the biological sample, e.g., by using a filter membrane or a semipermeable membrane and reverse osmosis, as too high salt concentrations may interfere with subsequent processing steps.
  • a reaction compartment comprising a semipermeable membrane may be provided.
  • the first processing step relates to the solubilization or lysis of the biological sample, that is, the breaking of the tissues and cells in order to release any (macro)molecules of interest, such as nucleic acids or proteins.
  • a second processing step relates to fractionation of the materials contained in the biological sample, for example by selective enzymatic digestion of nucleic acids (by addition of nucleases) or proteins (by addition of proteases) or by the selective removal (depletion) of any high-abundant macromolecules which may "mask" low-abundant macromolecules and thus obscure assay results.
  • any high-abundant macromolecules which may "mask" low-abundant macromolecules and thus obscure assay results.
  • proteins e.g., albumin, plasminogen, IgGs, IgMs, IgAs, apolipoproteins
  • an affinity matrix may be provided to which the proteins are selectively bound via specific antibody molecules (or binding fragments thereof).
  • affinity matrices for various purposes are commercially available from various suppliers and may be arranged in a reaction compartment of the device.
  • Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary device of the present invention adapted for the processing of a urine sample.
  • a first processing step is the desalting of the sample by filtering through a semipermeable membrane arranged in the first compartment.
  • the second processing step is the depletion of abundant proteins by selective capturing on an affinity resin or matrix provided in the second compartment.
  • the processed sample is collected in a sample collection reservoir.
  • the device of the present invention is integrally formed as one piece.
  • the at least first and second compartments for sample processing and, if present, the compartment for sample loading and/or the reagent reservoir and/or the sample collection reservoir represent a monolithic entity.
  • at least one compartment of the device is formed as a separate piece being connectable with the remainder one or more compartments of the device.
  • the at least first and second compartments for sample processing may represent a monolithic entity, and a reagent reservoir and a sample collection reservoir are each present as a separate entity.
  • the compartment for sample loading and the reagent reservoir may also be configured as a monolithic entity. It may also be possible to provide the at least first and second compartments as separate entities.
  • At least first and second compartments having microfluidic structures with capillaries having particular pre-determined average diameters may be provided.
  • at least first and second compartments being adapted for particular steps of sample processing may be provided, such as compartments comprising a particular affinity-resin for the selective binding of a fraction of the biological sample or compartments comprising a defined membrane for the desalting of the biological sample.
  • the device described herein is provided as a kit-of-parts comprising at least two separate entities, if applicable adapted for a specific application.
  • Exemplary devices in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in Figures 1 , 4 , and 5 .
  • the devices may be configured to be placed in and used with standard reaction tubes during centrifugation, for example 1.5 ml. 2 ml, 15 ml or 50 ml reaction tubes being commercially available from various suppliers.
  • the devices may be configured to directly be used analogously to standard reaction tubes, that is, the devices are shaped like such standard reaction tubes.
  • the present invention relates to a method for the processing of a biological sample by means of centrifugal force applied along the vertical axis of a processing device, the method comprising:
  • the biological sample may be introduced directly in the first compartment.
  • the biological sample is introduced in said additional compartment being connected to the at least first compartment of the device.
  • the volume of the biological sample is typically in the range between 5 ⁇ l and 25 ml depending on the type of the sample and the application concerned. For example, comparably small sample volumes in the range of 5 ⁇ l to 100 ⁇ l or in the range of 10 ⁇ l to 50 ⁇ l may be sufficient for most applications, if blood plasma or blood serum are employed. If a urine sample is analyzed, the volume may be in the range of 5 ml to 25 ml or in the range of 10 ml to 20 ml. A skilled person is well aware of selecting an appropriate sample volume in a given setting.
  • the first step of sample processing may be performed in the at least first compartment.
  • the sample may be first mixed with a suitable buffer and/or other reagents (e.g., chelating agents, lysis reagents, and enzymes) before the first step of sample processing is performed.
  • reagents e.g., chelating agents, lysis reagents, and enzymes
  • the reagent(s) are released from the reagent reservoir being connected to the compartment for sample loading or being connected to the at least first compartment of the device.
  • the reagent(s) may be pre-filled in a sealed reagent reservoir, and the release of the reagent(s) may be accomplished by connecting the reagent reservoir to the device (to the compartment for sample loading of the at least first compartment) by breaking the seal at the bottom surface of the reagent reservoir at the breaking point, for example by means of a push pillar arranged at the proximal end of the compartment for sample loading or the at least first compartment.
  • the device optionally in an appropriate reaction vessel, is then placed in a centrifuge for performing the first step of sample processing in the at least a first compartment of the device.
  • a first centrifugal force is applied along the vertical axis of the device, allowing the sample to pass the first microfluidic structure and to thus to be transferred to the at least second compartment of the device.
  • the transfer can be controlled by the centrifugal force applied. As long as the centrifugal force applied is less than the first centrifugal force being required to pass the first microfluidic structure, the sample will remain in the at least first compartment. Only once the first centrifugal force has been reached, the sample will be enabled to pass the first microfluidic structure.
  • the first microfluidic structure having capillaries with a mean diameter of 1 mm can be passed by the centrifugal force generated at 1000 rpm
  • the second microfluidic structure having capillaries with a mean diameter of 0.1 mm can be passed by the centrifugal force generated at 2500 rpm
  • fluid flow can be controlled solely by varying the average diameter of the capillaries. If the material of which the first microfluidic structure is made is further modified by surface functionalization in order to increase hydrophilic behavior, the difference in the respective centrifugal forces required to drive water through the first and second microfluidic structures will become even more pronounced.
  • Figure 7 illustrates the impact of the advancing contact angle (on the centrifugal force (in rpm) required to transfer water through capillaries made of polytetrafluoroethylene and having an average diameter of 100 ⁇ m (upper curve) and 1 mm (lower curve).
  • the microfluidic structures employed in the analyses had a thickness of 1 mm.
  • Centrifugation was performed at a temperature of 20°C using 2 ml reaction tubes in a rotor having a diameter of 24 cm. From the results, it is getting apparent that with increasing hydrophobicity there is a more than proportional increase in centrifugal force required in order to force water through capillaries with a decreasing average diameter.
  • the biological sample to be analyzed herein is sample derived from a mammal, such as a mouse, rat, hamster, rabbit, cat, dog, pig, cow, horse or monkey, and preferably a human.
  • samples may include body tissues (e.g., biopsies or resections, tissue specimens, and tissue lysates), swabs (e.g., nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs, wound swabs, skin swabs), stool samples, and body fluids (including liquid biopsies), such as blood (whole blood, plasma, serum), saliva, sputum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid, interstitial fluid, tearfluid, lymph fluid, eye ball fluid.
  • body tissues e.g., biopsies or resections, tissue specimens, and tissue lysates
  • swabs e.g., nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal sw
  • the term “whole blood” refers to blood with all its constituents (i.e., both blood cells and plasma).
  • plasma denotes the blood's liquid medium.
  • serum refers to plasma from which the clotting proteins have been removed.
  • the biological sample is selected from the group consisting of blood, plasma, serum, saliva, urine, nasopharyngeal swab, oropharyngeal swab, and tissue specimens.
  • the present invention relates to the use of a device as defined herein above for the processing of a biological sample to be subjected to so-called 'omics' applications.
  • 'Omics' applications are relatively new biomarker discovery and monitoring tools that can be applied to study large sets of biological molecules.
  • the objective of 'omics' applications is to identify, characterize, and quantify all biological molecules of a certain type that are involved in the structure, function, and dynamics of a cell, tissue, or organism.
  • Numerous 'omics' applications are well known in the art, such as genomics, epigenomics, phenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, glycomics, microbiomics, and metabolomics.
  • Genomics studies the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes and aims at characterization and quantification of genes.
  • Epigenomics investigates the supporting structure of the genome, including protein and RNA binders, alternative DNA structures, and DNA modifications. Phenomics is the systematic study of traits that make up a phenotype.
  • Transcriptomics analyzes an organism's transcriptome, the sum of all of its mRNA transcripts. It includes the amount or concentration of each RNA molecule in addition to the molecular identities.
  • proteome refers to the sum of all the proteins in a cell, tissue, or organism. Proteomics is the science that studies those proteins as related to their biochemical properties and functional roles, and how their quantities, modifications, and structures change during growth and in response to internal and external stimuli.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)
EP22211537.0A 2022-12-05 2022-12-05 Vorrichtung zur integrierten prozessierung biologischer proben Withdrawn EP4382204A1 (de)

Priority Applications (4)

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EP22211537.0A EP4382204A1 (de) 2022-12-05 2022-12-05 Vorrichtung zur integrierten prozessierung biologischer proben
CN202380083526.8A CN120303065A (zh) 2022-12-05 2023-12-05 用于对生物样本进行集成式处理的装置
EP23818422.0A EP4577349A1 (de) 2022-12-05 2023-12-05 Vorrichtung zur integrierten verarbeitung biologischer proben
PCT/EP2023/084366 WO2024121159A1 (en) 2022-12-05 2023-12-05 Device for integrated processing of biological samples

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WO2018060366A1 (en) * 2016-09-30 2018-04-05 1 Cryobio Ag Vessel

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DE102016201181B3 (de) * 2016-01-27 2017-05-04 Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg Röhre mit einer mikrofluidischen Struktur
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WO2024121159A1 (en) 2024-06-13
CN120303065A (zh) 2025-07-11

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